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It is a big day for Team Hawkes, with a $1.5 million yearling having its first start at Rosehill while a home bred carrying the tag of the "Rockhampton Rocket" chases group 1 glory in the BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday.
But both Taaj and Our Boy Malachi have been through the same system, which is about producing winners.
"It doesn't matter to us where they come from when they are in the stable, they all get treated the same. There is no special treatment," co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
"We are a small stable now and just want to get the best out of every horse for every owner and if that means being patient with them, we will do that. But we get days like Saturday and it is exciting."
Hawkes will head back to Brisbane with the second favourite for the Doomben Cup in Leebaz and Our Boy Malachi, which has won 17 of 19, in the BTC Cup.
He will watch Taaj on Sky Channel as he has his first start for Nasser Lootah and Shiekh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
"He is a nice horse that has done everything right and is ready to go to the races," Hawkes said. "He had a trial and is getting better all the time.
"At our place it doesn't matter if they are having their first start or won 17 [like Our Boy Malachi], we want them to show their best."
Our Boy Malachi he has shown group 1 potential winning all four of his starts since joining the Hawkes team, including the Starlight Stakes, Razor Sharp Handicap and the Hall Mark Stakes.
The fact that Our Boy Malachi's owner-breeder Col Donovan died after a battle with cancer in January only adds to story.
"He was just a good bloke and he had a really good horse. It is great to see [Our Boy Malachi] going back there [to Queensland]," Hawkes said. "There is something about taking a horse called the 'Rockhampton Rocket' back to Queensland. They love their own up there."
It is the personal touch that sets apart Team Hawkes and for Michael Hawkes, Leebaz and Our Boy Malachi provide an opportunity to top anything he did as Brisbane foreman for his father John, while in charge of the Ingham's Crown Lodge operation.
"It is where it started for me [Brisbane]. We had a lot of success while I was there - we quinellaed the Stradbroke [Crawl and Hire in 2001] but this would mean more to me," Hawkes said.
"We have had a lot to do with these horses and their owners and that makes it a bit special. Leebaz's owners have been very patient with him and he is coming right at the right time for this race."
Leebaz finally broke through for a win in the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast last time out and will be looking to go one better in the Doomben Cup after running second to Streama last year.
"He has been close so many times and this could be his day," Hawkes said.
However it is Our Boy Malachi that Hawkes is looking forward to taking home. The six-year-old, which started his career winning by almost a dozen lengths on the sand at Gympie, bagged a couple of Rockhampton Newmarket Handicaps before being given his shot at the big time.
"When Col Donovan rang me and asked if we would take him, I had to say yes because he had won 13 races – it takes a good horse to do that anywhere," Hawkes said.
"I'm just really proud he has been able to show what a good horse he is and going back there for group 1 is great."
Donovan's dream was to win a Stradbroke if Our Boy Malachi was good enough and the next month will decide that.
"We think he is good enough but he still has to do it," Hawkes said.
